What is a Governing Body?
Governors are the strategic leaders within schools and have the responsibility of promoting high standards of educational achievement, ensuring every child in their school receives the best quality education. A key role is to act as a ‘critical friend’: to support, to challenge, to ask questions, and ultimately to represent the school community. Whilst the Headteacher is, of course, responsible for the day to day running of the school, the governing body has three core functions.
- Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction.
- Holding the head to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils and the performance management of staff.
- Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.
The Ewhurst C of E Infant School Governing Body works in close partnership with the Headteacher, staff, Local Authority and Diocese of Guildford. As a Voluntary Aided school, Ewhurst C of E Infant School is also responsible for raising 10% towards any capital spending on our school.
Who are we?
The Ewhurst C of E Infant School Governing Body, chaired by Heather Hadfield, includes parents, staff and representatives from the local community including the local Parish. We are all dedicated, enthused individuals driven by our purpose to ensure the children receive the very best education and inspirational opportunities to achieve their full potential to be happy, well rounded children with a love for learning. All governor roles are voluntary (unpaid). The complete list of current Governors can be found below including their roles and responsibilities.
Our Governing Body is made up of 12 members and is comprised of several different types of governors, who join as one of the following:
- The Head Teacher
- Foundation governors – appointed by the Parochial Church Council and Diocese
- Parent governors – elected by the parents and carers of pupils at the school
- Local Authority governor – appointed by Surrey County Council
- Staff governor – elected by the staff themselves
- Co-opted governor – appointed by the Governing Body
If you are interested in being a school governor and would like to know more, please contact the Chairs of Governors for an informal chat by emailing info@ewhurst.surrey.sch.uk
How do we work?
Formal discussion and decisions normally take place during pre-arrange full governor meetings. Typically, these take place once a term, although sometimes more meetings are scheduled depending on the need. We also have sub-committee meetings that take place at least once a term. The two committees are the Effectiveness Committee; looking at educational standards, SEND, pupil premium and safeguarding. The Efficiency Committee; looking at Health and Safety, buildings, pay and finance.
We have Link class governors who visit specific class through the year as well as subject lead governors. Learning walks and visits to school are encouraged. We are a supportive team, with a hands-on approach, proactively helping the school when we can.
Our governor meetings follow an Open Meeting protocol. Please view the Open meeting protocol information below if you would like to attend any of the governor meetings.
September 2023
Our Current Governors
Co-Chairs: Mrs A Fish, Mrs C Craven
Vice Co-Chairs: Mrs C Barber, Dr D Hogg
Local Authority Governor: Dr D Hogg, Mrs C Craven
Head Teacher: Mr J Walters
Staff Governor: Miss V Allan
Foundation (PCC) Governors: 3 vacant
Foundation (Ex-Officio Governor): vacant
Foundation (Diocesan) Governors: Mrs C Barber, Mrs A Fish, Mrs N Payne
Parent Governors: Mr R Bartlett, Mr M Simpson
Safeguarding Governor: Mrs N Payne
SEND Governor: Mrs N Payne
Clerk: Mrs Lorna Harnby
The upcoming open Governing Body meetings will be Wednesday 24 January 2024, Wednesday 13 March 2024, Wednesday 8 May 2024 and Wednesday 26 June 2024 – all at 6.30pm
Meet our Governing Body
Ariela Fish - Co-Chair of Governors
Ariela lives in Ewhurst with her family. Two of her children attend Ewhurst C of E Infant School. Ariela was very excited to join the Governing Body as a parent governor and the governor for safeguarding in September 2021. With a background in psychology and law, Ariela is eager to lend her skills in support of our wonderful school.
Clair Craven - Co-Chair of Governors
Clair was appointed by the local authority for a short term to support the Governors
Clare Barber Vice Co-Chair
Clare joined the Governing Body in October 2020. She is currently Assistant Head of Notre Dame Catholic Prep School in Cobham, where she has worked for over 10 years. Clare has close links with Ewhurst Infant School as both her children, Jess and Harry went through the school and she was Chair of the PTA for two years. Jess is now at Cardiff University studying Psychology and Harry is in Year 13 at St Peter's Catholic School in Guildford.
Previously, before she re-trained as a teacher at Chichester University, Clare worked as a Senior Brand Manager for Unilever, launching and promoting new products and gaining various qualifications in marketing and communication.
She enjoys walking her two springer spaniels, Milo and Poppy, has a passion for music and enjoys socialising. Friends, family and community are all very important to her.
Dan Hogg Vice Co-Chair
Dan started as a governor at Ewhurst in November 2021. He has lived and taught in Cranleigh since 2010, and has two children who attend school in the local area. He is currently Head of Classics at Cranleigh School, where he has held a variety of roles in professional and curriculum development as well as university guidance and sports coaching. He is a keen hockey player and a talentless but enthusiastic footballer and runner. He believes firmly in education for all as well as education of the whole child, and is excited about the chance to contribute to the warm community at Ewhurst.
Nicola Payne
Nicki has been a resident of Ewhurst since she was 4 years old. In those days her name was Metcalf, and was fortunate to have parents who were heavily involved within this community. Nicki herself went to this gorgeous village school, learnt to swim here and made many friends that continue to be in her life. After she got married she returned to Ewhurst from Dorking with her two children. They too went to the village school and are now studying a levels and a degree. Nicki is a qualified teacher [22 years] and head teacher for 5 years. She worked in a small village school just like Ewhurst, which is why she has joined the governing body. Nicki hopes that her experience will be beneficial to this lovely school. She thinks that this village has a great deal to offer young families and at the heart of this is the school.
Richard Bartlett
Beginning his tenure as a governor at Ewhurst in November 2023, Richard has been a resident of the local area since 2016, and is a parent to two students enrolled in the school. In his professional life, he is a Director at a Nationwide Main Contractor, a firm that has completed over 500 projects in the educational sector. Richard is a strong advocate for the positive impact that a supportive community and well-designed physical learning spaces can have on educational achievements. Prior to fatherhood, he raced long-distance triathlons and ultra marathons. Although he's interested in resuming these activities, his knees are showing signs of wear at a rate seemingly double that of his children's growth.
Matt Simpson
Matt started as a Governor in November 2023 and currently has one child in the school, he has recently been appointed as Assistant Principal at Godalming College having previously worked at Collyer’s College in Horsham, spanning a 17-year career in education. Matt’s main educational specialities are in Safeguarding and Pupil Engagement and prior to his pastoral roles was a Head of PE. Outside of work he is a keen golfer having retired from semi-professional football and cricket, he is hoping to bring his experience of sport and pastoral responsibilities to Ewhurst to continue the schools work as a happy place for young people to learn.
Jonathan Walters - Headteacher
Jonathan started his position as Headteacher at Ewhurst CE Infant School in September 2022. Before then, he worked in a number of different schools in Surrey, London and Germany. Prior to joining the education profession he was a diplomat in the Foreign Office, travelling to countries all over the world. He loves exploring different countries, learning languages and spending time with his family. He was born in Wales but over the years has lost most of his accent!
Verity Allan - Staff Governor
Verity was very excited to start as the staff governor in November 2023. Verity joined Ewhurst school in September 2023, as the teacher for our Reception class. She has been teaching Reception children for 14 years. Prior to joining Ewhurst school, Verity was an Early Years Leader at a large academy in Surrey and had also taught Reception children at a school in Woking. Verity loves teaching and working within Early Years, as she finds it a very rewarding privilege. She says it’s always amazing to see how the children flourish and progress from their start in September to their transition into Year 1.
Verity loves travelling and has been fortunate enough to live in Dallas, Texas when she was 6 years old. She went to Elementary school there for 2 years. Whilst completing her teacher training at University, she was asked to complete a placement at a school which didn’t teach the National Curriculum. She therefore returned to her Elementary school where her teacher was still working. She remembered her as the little girl who always came into school with big bunches in her hair, Laura Ashely dresses, white socks and black patent shoes.
When Verity first visited Ewhurst school, she immediately knew that she wanted to be part of it’s warm welcoming community. She is eager to help support the future development of the school and seeing all children being the best that they can be, whilst being provided with a safe, inclusive and fun environment.
Lorna Harnby - Clerk
Please click here to see our constitution and the declaration of interests 2023-24
Please click here to see the Attendance Record 2022-23